Ryan wants more after Dragons bag opening win
A TRY double from full-back Jordan Williams put the Dragons on course to a bonus-point win over Zebre at Rodney Parade on Friday night.
Man of the match Jamie Roberts and hooker Elliot Dee also added tries to give the Gwent region their first win of the PRO14 season.
Zebre responded with tries from centres Federico Mori and Giulio Bisegni. Italy fly-half Carlo Canna also added eight points while Sam Davies missed four kicks at goal for the hosts.
The Dragons opened the scoring through Williams after a powerful initial burst from Wales centre Roberts on his home debut. Davies’ conversion hit the post.
Roberts and Williams swapped roles for Dragons’ second try. Williams made a superb incisive burst after a Nick Tompkins long pass before he was pulled down just short of the Zebre line, with the supporting Roberts diving over.
Canna opened Zebre’s account with a penalty, before hooker Dee was driven over for the third try.
Zebre wing Mattia Bellini was yellow-carded just before halftime. But the visitors still managed a runaway try from centre Mori to reduce the half-time deficit to 15-10.
That was reduced to two points with an early second-half Canna penalty.
Dragons ensured the bonus point thanks to excellent approach work from Roberts, with Williams benefitting with his second try.
Former Leicester prop Greg Bateman made his first Dragons appearance from the bench.
Although fly-half Davies missed all four conversions, he slotted over two late penalties.
Zebre crossed for their second try through captain Bisegni on his 100th appearance for the Italian club. A missed Antonio Rizzi conversion meant they were denied a losing bonus point.
Dragons director of rugby
Dean Ryan said: “I am not very satisfied. It is a game where after 35 minutes of the first half we had a lot of control and then missed some clinical moments.
“We have to analyse what is going on in those moments because we had them against Leinster and had them again.
“Although we had control of the game, it forced us into a more cagey game in the second half when we should be surging away.
“We keep dragging ourselves down.”